Machine for applying liquid coating material to articles



E. R. E RICKSON. MACHINE FOR APPLYING LIQUID COATING MATERIAL T0 ARTICLES.

APPLlCATION FILED ARR. 6. I920.

Patented Mar.

A J W a 4 k 8,1 SHEET 2 SHEETS- I l I i 1 I E awveu for Ll-Ll (3a E. R. ERICKSONv MACHINE FOR APPLYING LIQUID COATING MATERIAL T0 ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6; 1920.

7 1,371,082, Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

mums: a. ERIGKSON, or DES Morass, row'A.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed April 6, 1920. Serial No. 371,632.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST R. ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States, residin at Des Moines, in the county-of Polk and. tate of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Applying Liquid Coating Material to Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for applying enamel, varnish or other liquid coating material to can or cup-shaped metal articles, and especially to those having screened or perforated bottoms, the object being to apply the coating on both sides of removed from the cups which are the walls of the articles without applying the same to the screens or perforated bottoms, which would have the effect of filling the openings therein.

This machine embodies a construction whereby a plurality of such articles may be coated or enameled at the same time, the articles being held in a vertically movable frame and coated by immersion in the liquid in a tank into which the articles are lowered, and from which they are raised, by up and down movement of the carrier frame.

For the purpose of excluding the liquid coating material from the screens, or perforated bottoms, the latter are inclosed on the inner or under side by cup-shaped devices which fit intov the articles, and are covered on the upper or outer side by caps, these cups and caps preventing access of the liquid to the screens when the articles are immersed into the tank.

The machine is further characterized by a construction permitting all the caps to be applied to the articles by a single movement of a supporting bar which carries the caps, and which can be swung out of position to permit the articles to be placed upon and on the frame referred to.

Various other details of improvement with respect to the structure and operation of the machine will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 'is a perspective of the machine in what is called open position. Fig. 2 is a partial perspective showing the parts in closed position. Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the cups. Fig. 4 is a top view of one of the caps. Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing an article in position preparatory supported to being dipped. Fig. 6 is a detail in section of one of the caps.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 1 indicates a relatively long tank adapted to contain the enamel or other liquid coating material, supported by legs 6. Associated with this tank is a carrier frame which consists of two vertical end bars 2, one at each end of the tank, and the upper ends of these bars support a depending longitudinal bar 2, the ends of which are bent upwardly and connected to the upper ends of the bars 2 and off-set inwardly so that the bar'2 may be lowered into the tank. Mounted upon the bar 2 are a plurality of cups 3, these cups being closed except for an opening 3 at the bottom, which opening also'extends through the bar 2 and serves as a drain for any liquid which may leak into the cup. Each of these cups supports an article A to be coated, andthe shape and size of the cups will be varied according to the shape of the articles to betreated. In the drawing I have shown a sifter, cup having a screen bottom, the purpose being to enamel both sides of the wall of the cup without enameling the screen at the bottom. These articles. are

placed on the cups 3 ininverted position, with the screen indicated at a restingon the upper edge of the cup, the cup being of such size that the edge at the top' fits, closely around the periphery of the screen. The cups are tapered to allow the enamel to enter between the cup and the article, so as to coat the inside of the. wall of the article. The cup 3 has a notch '30 or anumber of notches at the extreme top and side of cup3 to allow an indenture, wireor bracket, on the inner side of article to slip over and tofit close 1 to cup 3. Such a wire or bracket is not shown but is sometimes found as a part of the sifter cups or other articles forthe coating of which the machine is especially adapted v The cups lcorrespondin numberand position to the cups 3, and have a beveled under surface 41' adapted to fit the wall of the article, as indicated at 4? in Fig. 6, and

each cap has a vent hole 10. The'caps are 7 attached to a longitudinal bar 5 the ends of which are bent downwardly as shown at 5, outside of and beside the bars 2, to which they are connected bypins)?" and slots 5 permitting limited vertical movement of t with a new set'of articles.

cups are immersed-in the liquid is so limited that the enamel or lift the frame. The bar. 5

the bar 5 and also permitting the same to be swung into position above the cups, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper ends of the bars 2 are provided with brackets 31 having notches 32 into which the bar 5 may drop to lower the caps 4 onto the articles, and said brackets having extending arms 33 which support said bar 5 when it is lifted and swung out of the way as shown in Fig. 1. l

The supporting frame above described is normally held in raised position by springs 10 connected between theend bars 2 and the tank, and the'frame maybe lowered to immerse the articles by foot pressure on a rod 8 connecting the lower ends of the vertical bars, under the tank. Said bars are, guided by upper and lower flanged rollers 15, mounted on the tankframe.

Each cap 4 is connected to the bar 5 by a bolt 41 which works loosely through the bar 5, with a spring 9 coiled between the bar and the cap, said spring acting to press the caps against the articles when the bar 5 is lowered.

In operation, the bar 5 is lifted and swung back out of the way, as shown in Fig. 1,

together with the caps 4. The articles A to be enameled are then placed ininverted position on the cups 3, as shown in Fig. 5. Then the bar 5 is swung back and the cups 4;. lowered to contact with said articles. -It will be seen that the screens formingthe bottoms pf the articles areinclosed by the cups and the caps. The frame is then lowered by pressing down on the bar 8, toimmerse the cups and articles carried thereby in the liquid in the tank, which thus coats both the inside and outside of the side walls of the articles, the screens, however, being protected from contact with the liquid. The pressure is then released and the springs 10 g V is then swung back and the articles may be cups by .a suitable tool and removed to be dried; and the operation may be repeated The time the I paint, byreason of its low fluidity, willnot enter the hole 3 in sufficient quantity to fillthe cup 3 and reach the screena, the cups beingdippedand M raised rather rapidly.

The machine forms a very simple and COIIYGIIIGIIt ClGYICG for coating any kind of .articles having screen bottoms, the cups .and

caps 4c, as stated, being capable of variation .tosuit the size and shape of the article to be tr a sd- I I I I claim;

1. Ina coating machine, the combination with atank, of a frame movable into and out of the tank and adapted to support arti cles to be immersedin. liquid in the tank, said frame being provided with devices fitthe cup, said 'wall to support said article when it is lowered lifted from th r 7 'j port an article and protect a portion thereof from contact of liquid within the tank,.and

,a cap adaptedto be applied to theouter surface of the article, opposite to the cup,

and protect said surface from contact with the liquid in the tank.

. 3. In a coating machine, the combination with a tank, of a frame movable into and out of the tank, a cup mounted on the frame and shaped at its upper end to fit within an inverted hollow article placed thereon and in contact with the inner surface of said article, and a cap mounted on the frame and adapted to 'contact with the outer side of said article, opposite to the upper end of the P- 4C. In a coating machine, the combination \vitlra tank, of a frame movable into and out of the tank, a cup mounted on the frame and shaped at its upper end to fit within an inverted hollow article placed thereon and in contact with the inner surface of said article, and a cap mounted on the frame and adaptedto contact with theouter side of said article, opposite to the upper end of cap and cup being provided with-vents for the purpose stated.

5. In a coating machine, the combination with a tank, of a frame movable into and out of the tank, a taperedcup supported upon a frame and adapted to fit within and of a hollow article placed thereon and into the. tank.. v I V V 6. 'Ina coating machine, the combination with a tank, of a frame movable into. and

goutv of the tank, atapered cup supported upon a frame and adapted to fitfwithin and spaced from therinner surface of the side 7 wall of'a hollow article placed thereon and 1 to support'said article when 'it is lowered :-into thetank, said cup beingprovided with a notch at its upperend. 1 V

7. In a coatingmachin'efthe combination with a tank, of a frame movable into and out of the tank and provided with means to support an article, and a cap carried by the frame and adapted to inclose a portion of the outer surface of said article and protect said portion from contact with the liquid in. the tank. 8. In a coating machine, the combination with a tank, of a frame 'movable into and out of the tankand provided with means to support an article, and a cap carried by the .105 spaced from the inner' surface ofthe side frame and adapted to inclose a portion of the outer surface of said article and protect said portion from contact with the liquid in the tank, said cap being yieldingly supported on the frame.

9. In a coating machine, the combination with a tank, of a bar movable into and out of the tank, a support on the bar for an article to be immersed into the tank, a swinging frame connected to said frame, and a cap mounted on the swinging frame and arranged to be swung into contact with a portion of the outer surface of said article.

10. In a coatin machine, the combination with a tank, of a Iiar extending over the top of the tank and movable into and out of the tank, a plurality of supports mounted on the bar and adapted to support articles to be immersed in the tank, an upper bar extending over the tank above said supports, and means carried by said upper bar to inclose and protect a portion of said articles from contact with liquid in the tank.

11. In a coatin machine, the combination with a tank, of a ar extending over the top of the tank and movable into and out of the tank, a plurality of supports mounted on the bar and adapted to support articles to be immersed in the tank, an upper bar extending over the tank above said supports, and means carried by said upper bar to inclose and protect a portion of said articles from contact with liquid in the tank, said bar being pivoted to swing into and out of position above said supports.

12. In a coating machine, the combination with a tank, provided with guides at the ends, of end bars movable up and down in said guides, a horizontal bar extending over the tank and connected to the upper ends of said end bars and adapted to be lowered into the tank, said horizontal bar being provided with means to support articles thereon and inclose a portion of the inner surface of said articles, and means to raise and lower said end bars.

13. In a coating machine, the combination with a tank, of vertically movable bars at the ends thereof, a cross bar extending over the tank and connected to said end bars and provided with means to support a plurality of articles for immersion in liquid in the tank, and another bar pivotally connected to said end bars and extending across the tank above said cross bar and adapted to be swung into and out of alinement therewith,

and provided with means to engage and.

clamp said articles while they are being immersed in liquid in the tank.

14. In a coating machine, a combination with a tank, of a frame movable into and out of the same, a cup carried by said frame and adapted to fit within a hollow article placed thereon, with the upper edge of the cup in contact with the bottom of said article, and a cap movably connected to the frame and shaped to fit against the outer side of the bottom of said article, opposite to the cup, and protect said bottom from contact with liquid in the tank.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST R. ERIGKSON.

Witnesses:

E. A. Wnsrnmo, C. E. ERIGKSON. 

